9 Story Media Group’s New ‘Garfield’ Movie Collection Leaves Little For Audiences To Like

Courtesy: 9 Story Media Group

20^th Century Fox’s (now just 20^th Century Films) CG-based Garfield flicks Garfield Gets Real and Garfield’s Fun Fest are unquestionably among the worst of any of the flabby feline’s movies.  Released direct to DVD in 2007 and 2008 respectively, the “movies” flopped with scores of 34 percent and 40 percent respectively from Rotten Tomatoes.  To that end, it leaves one wondering why any studio would even begin to consider re-issuing them.  9 Story Media Group however – which was responsible for the release of the first three seasons of Garfield and Friends (those collections had their fair share of negatives, too) – has taken it on itself to re-issue the movies in a single DVD collection dubbed Garfield Cartoon World: Two Movie Collection.  For those who may actually like these movies, the collection’s primary positive is that they are presented together.  Though for the appeal that this will generate for those audiences, it should also be noted that the set has at least one notable negative, the lack of the bonus content featured in the movies’ initial releases.  Given, the bonus content featured in the noted DVD releases is not that significant, its absence from this collection does detract from its presentation.  Perhaps the one remaining positive to the set is its average price point.  Together with the general packaging, the two items make the presentation slightly positive at best.

9 Story Media Group’s recent re-issue of Garfield Gets Real and Garfield’s Fun Fest is an intriguing new offering from the company, which was also responsible for the releases of the first three seasons of Garfield & Friends.  Originally released direct to DVD in 2007 and 2008 respectively, the movies proved largely unsuccessful offerings save for perhaps a specific group of viewers.  Now released together for the first time, the two movies are available in this collection together.  This is important because of the fact that it will save space on viewers’ DVD/BD racks.  Packaging the two movies on one disc means that it saves at least one space on those noted racks.  That is a minimal impact, but an impact nonetheless.

Of course, on another hand, one could also note that the movies were not the only CG-based Garfield features released by then 20^th Century Fox.  A third movie, Garfield’s Pet Force, a spoof of all of the superhero movies that had been released to that point, followed Garfield’s Fun Fest in 2009.  So had that movie been included in this collection on perhaps a second disc and standard dual disc cases being what they are, the packaging would have been even more of a positive.  Sadly though, the impact is minimal at best here.  Though at least it is something of a positive.

While the general packaging of Garfield Cartoon World: Two Movie Collection is at least something of a positive for the collection’s presentation, it is not without one notable negative, that being its lack of bonus content.  Those who already own the movies’ initial releases will note that those DVDs each come with bonus content.  The latter of the pair only has one bonus, a pair of DVD-rom games while the prior offers audiences, two games, interviews, bloopers, and a display of how Garfield is drawn.  None of that bonus content was carried over to this collection from the two standalone DVDs.  As a result, audiences who might actually want to watch the bonus content will now have to hold onto the standalone DVDs and make the choice of keeping them and avoiding this collection or owning both.  In that case, the smarter choice is to just avoid this set and keep the standalone DVDs.

The lack of bonus content with Garfield Cartoon World: Two Movie Collection detracts considerably from the set’s presentation.  Though, it is not enough to make the set a complete failure.  The collection’s average price point pairs with the collection’s general packaging to add at least some more appeal to its presentation.  The collection’s average price point – using listings at Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, and PBS’ online store – is $6.32.  It was not listed at Books-A-Million at the time of this review’s posting.  PBS and Barnes & Noble each listed the collection at $6.99 while each of the other major retailers listed it at $5.99.  Keeping that in min, the collection’s average price listings are relatively affordable to say the least.  The $6.99 listings are in themselves barely over the average price point.  None of the listings even reaches the $10 mark, so audiences will not break the bank for any viewer, regardless of which retailer viewers choose.  Keeping this in mind along with the collection’s packaging (imperfect as even it is), the collection will find appeal at least to some viewers, limited as that number is.

9 Story Media Group’s recently released Garfield CG movie collection Garfield Cartoon World: Two Movie Collection is a moderate success at best.  It is a presentation that will appeal only to the most devoted Garfield fans.  That is due in large part to its packaging.  The packaging places two of 20^th Century Fox’s three CG Garfield movies — Garfield Gets Real and Garfield’s Fun Fest – on one single disc.  This saves at least one space on any viewer’s DVD/BD rack.  The issue here though, is that the third movie – Garfield’s Pet Force, which was released in 2009 – is not featured in the collection to make it a full three-movie set.  Even despite that, the packaging does save at least a minimal amount of space on the noted racks.  While that serves as at least something of a positive for viewers, the fact that the collection does not carry over the bonus content featured in the movies’ original releases.  This will lead viewers who already own the movies’ standalone DVD releases to find them more worth owning.  The collection’s average price point pairs with its packaging to make for at least some more appeal.  Keeping this in mind, this collection proves an appealing presentation primarily for the most devoted Garfield fans.  Garfield Cartoon World: Two Movie Collection is available now.

More information on this and more from 9 Story Media Group is available at:

Website: http://9story.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/9StoryMediaGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/9StoryMG

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.  

PBS, Nickelodeon Offer Kids, Families Lots Of Worthwhile DVDs, Blu-rays In 2020

Courtesy: Nickelodeon/Viacom

PBS, PBS Kids and Nickelodeon are some of the most important television networks for children today.  In an age when it seems like families are becoming increasingly segregated within their own homes thanks to technology and general television programming that is anything but family friendly, these networks continued to provide so much content to bring families together in 2020.  That content was presented not just on the small screen, but also on DVD and Blu-ray.  To that extent, even new children’s DVDs and Blu-rays deserve their own year-end best of list.  That list is what is presented here from Phil’s Picks.  This  year’s list of top new children’s DVDs and Blu-rays pulls mainly from the noted networks, and even from Warner Brothers.  Topping the list this  year is S.T.E.M. programming from Nickelodeon in the form of a new DVD from Blaze and the Monster Machines.  Also featured in this list is new content from series, such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Sesame Street, and even a certain Cartoon Network movie.

As with every other year-ender list from Phil’s Picks, this list features the year’s Top 10 New titles and five additional honorable mention titles for a total of 15 titles.  Without any further ado here is Phil’s Picks 2020 Top 10 New Children’s DVDs & Blu-rays.

PHIL’S PICKS 2020 TOP 10 NEW CHILDREN’S DVDS & BLU-RAYS

1. Blaze and the Monster Machines – Knight Riders
2. The Berenstain Bears – Bear Family Vacation
3. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood – Explore The Outdoors
4. Tex Avery – Screwball Classics Vol. 1
5. Tex Avery – Screwball Classics Vol. 2
6. Space Ghost & Dino Boy: The Complete Series
7. Are You Afraid of the Dark?
8. Ben 10 vs. The Universe
9. Blaze and the Monster Machines – Race for the Golden Treasure
10. Elmo’s World – Things Elmo Loves
11. Monster Hits – Rock & Rhyme With Elmo
12. Paw Patrol – Dino Rescue
13. Paw Patrol – Mighty Pups – Super Paws
14. Paw Patrol – Jet to the Rescue
15. Garfield World Two Movie Collection

Up next from Phil’s Picks is the year’s Top 10 new Family DVD & Blu-ray Box sets.  Stay tuned for that. 

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.  

PBS Distribution To Re-Issue Two Recent ‘Garfield’ Movies

Courtesy: PBS Distribution

Public Media Distribution will re-issue two Garfield movies next week.

The company is scheduled to release Garfield: Cartoon World Tuesday on DVD. The two-movie collection features the 2007 direct-to-DVD movie Garfield Gets Real and its 2008 follow-up Garfield’s Fun Fest.

Garfield Gets Real was the first full-length movie from the CG-era of Garfield. Its story follows Garfield as he literally takes the leap from the printed page to the real world. He takes the risk because he has become bored with his life as a comic strip star.

Frank Welker (The Real Ghostbusters, Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels) voices Garfield in this movie. He is joined by Jason Marsden (Hocus Pocus, A Goofy Movie, Extreme Ghostbusters) as the voice of Nermal, and Gregg Berger (Garfield On The Town, Garfield in the Rough, Garfield & Friends, The Garfield Show) as the voice of Odie. Wally Wengert (DC Superfriends, My Life as a Teenage Robot, The Angry Beavers) takes on the voice of Jon Arbuckle.

Garfield’s Fun Fest finds Garfield back in the comic strip world. In this movie, Garfield has a new contender for his title at the annual Comic Strip World talent show, which he wins every year. Making things even more interesting for Garfield is that Arlene is tired of doing the same routine annually with Garfield, so his new opponent may have a new partner. This all leaves Garfield to do some soul searching, so to speak to determine whether he wins the 30th Comic Strip World talent show.

Welker once again voices Garfield. Berger and Wingert also return in their respective roles from Garfield Gets Real. Audrey Wasilewski (My Life as A Teenage Robot, Mad Men, Red) joins the cast in this movie as the voice of Arlene.

Garfield: Cartoon World will retail for MSRP of $6.99.

More information on this and other titles from PBS Distribution is available along with all of PBS Distribution’s latest news at:

Website: http://pbsdistribution.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PBSDistribution.org

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PBSDistribution

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

‘Garfield & Friends: Season Two’ Is Entertaining, But Imperfect

Courtesy: PBS Distribution/PBS/ Paws Inc.

Garfield & Friends is back on DVD again.  PBS Distribution released the second season of the timeless animated series Nov. 5 in a three-disc set through a partnership with Skiprope.  The set’s release comes almost fourteen years after 20^th Century Fox released the fifth and last of its Garfield & Friends volumes.  Those volumes are all available through Amazon and other online retailers, and as much as this critic dislikes having to say it, are better investments than this collection and its predecessor in Garfield & Friends Season 1.  That is not to say that this latest collection from PBS Distribution is unwatchable; far from it.  However, it does suffer from one key con – its remastering, which will be addressed a little later.  While the remastering has caused its own share of problems for this collection, the general content makes up for the problems caused by the remastering.  This will be addressed shortly.  The set’s packaging rounds out its most important elements.  It will also be discussed here later.  Each item noted here plays its own important part in the whole of Garfield & Friends: Season 2.  All things considered, they make the set a welcome addition to the library of any of this series’ fans, but only if they cannot get their hands on 20^th Century Fox’s previously released Garfield & Friends collections.

PBS Distribution and Skip Rope’s recently released Season 2 set of Garfield & Friends is an entertaining offering for fans of the timeless animated series.  That is due in part to the set’s primary content – the episodes.  Audiences receive in this collection, the second season of Garfield & Friends in its entirety.  All 30 episodes from Season 2 are here from the season premiere to finale.  From the unforgettable “Rip Van Kitty,” — which finds Garfield falling asleep for fifty years, only to wake up in the future which finds Nermal just as cute and annoying as ever, Odie in a wheelchair and an alien invasion in which the aliens look just like Garfield – “Sludge Monster,” which finds Garfield, Jon and Odie staying the night in a “haunted” inn, and “Basket Brawl,” which spoofs the National Basketball Association, placing Garfield against Jon, Odie and Nermal in their attempts to prepare a picnic.  All of the U.S. Acres shorts that accompanied the main episodes are here, too.  Simply put, audiences looking for the second season of Garfield & Friends in its precise chronological order get exactly that here.  That is without question a key positive to the set and makes the set worth owning.  While the presence of Season 2’s full run forms a solid foundation for the set, the actual presentation of those episodes detracts from the set to a certain point.

Much like with the presentation of the series’ first season, this set is also presented in a 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen).  For those less familiar with aspect ratios, that might not seem overly important.  However, for those who are more familiar with the matter of aspect ratios, this is a bad thing.  That is because in comparison to the original 4:3 presentation – which was used in the sets from 20^th Century Fox – the 16:9 presentation does show a certain amount of loss.  There might be more visible in terms of horizontal content, but clearly there is a certain amount of loss in the picture’s vertical presentation.  Heads are cut off along with tops of scenes.  The series’ full-screen 4:3 presentation by comparison actually does give viewers the literal full picture in each episode.  What’s more, the remastering does show through in general, as the picture is much sharper in each episode.  The problem is that the picture is perhaps too sharp.  It is that clean.  There is something special about seeing this series exactly as it aired in its original broadcast.  Sure, some remasterings are good and necessary. Comparing this presentation to the presentation in the 20^th Century Fox box sets really does make the earlier presentations that much more charming and appealing in general.  To that end, one cannot help but wonder if the remastering that was done with this set (and its predecessor in Season One) was truly necessary.  Luckily even with that question in mind, this set is not a total loss.  The set’s packaging helps its overall presentation in its own right.

The packaging for Garfield & Friends: Season Two is key to its presentation in that it does admittedly save space on audiences’ DVD/BD racks.  Unlike the Garfield & Friends sets from 20^th Century Fox, this set (and its predecessor) compress the packaging by placing each of its three discs on its own plate inside the case.  The third disc is placed in its own spot inside the case.  By comparison, 20^th Century Fox’s sets each consist of three discs.  However, the discs are each placed inside their own slimcase inside the bigger box.  This is key to note because the end result is more space taken up on racks than the packaging manner used in this set and that of Season One.  To that end, PBS Distribution and Skiprope have actually done audiences a favor here.

Adding to the positive of the packaging is that the packaging method used here serves to protect the discs from one another just as much as the manner used by 20^th Century Fox.  Keeping that in mind, the packaging used for this collection is just as important to consider as the set’s content.  When the packaging and content are considered together, they make the collection in whole a set enjoyable for those who might not already own the previously released Garfield & Friends box sets released by 20^th Century Fox and who might be unable to get their hands on those sets.

PBS Distribution and Skiprope’s recently released Garfield & Friends: Season Two box set is a presentation that will appeal to fans of the timeless animated series that who do not already own the series’ DVD sets previously released by 20^th Century Fox and those unable to get their hands on those sets, which collectively present the series maybe not in chronological order, but in full.  Audiences do get here, the whole of Season Two in its entirety and in precise chronological order.  They also get positive packaging.  For all of the positives that the set shows, it also does have a negative that cannot be ignored – the general presentation of the episodes.  While it clearly detracts from the set’s presentation, it is not enough to make the set entirely unwatchable.  It just shows that perhaps the remastering was not entirely necessary.  Keeping all of this in mind, the whole of Garfield & Friends: Season Two is enjoyable, but still leaves itself lacking to a point.  Garfield & Friends: Season Two is available now.  More information on the set is available online now at:

 

Website: http://www.pbsdistribution.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PBSDistribution.org

 

 

 

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

PBS Distribution Releases ‘Garfield & Friends: Season 2’

Courtesy: PBS Distribution/PBS/ Paws Inc.

Everybody’s favorite flabby feline is back on DVD.

PBS Distribution released the second season of the timeless animated series Garfield & Friends Nov. 5.  Season 2, which originally premiered Sept. 16, 1989, features 30 episodes including Garfield’s farm friends from U.S. Acres.

Among some of the most notable of the season’s episodes are the unforgettable “Rip Van Kitty,” “Sludge Monster,” and “Basket Brawl” as well as the equally entertaining “Robodie,” “Swine Trek” and “Heatwave Holiday.”

“Rip Van Kitty” plays on the classic take of Rip Van Winkle, putting Garfield into a dream sequence that finds him sleeping for fifty years. When he wakes up, it’s the future, and an army of Garfield lookalikes from the planet Zizzabonnawannawanna Boink Boink Three (say that three times fast) has invaded Earth.  For all the changes that have happened during his nap, two things haven’t changed — Nermal is still as annoying as ever and Binky the Clown is still on the air, only much older.

“Sludge Monster” plays on Universal Pictures’ classic monster movies as Jon, Odie and Garfield have to stop for the night at a hotel that is allegedly haunted by the infamous sludge monster.  The discovery leads to an entertaining musical number by Jon.

“Basket Brawl” is one of the series’ most memorable episodes, as it finds Garfield going solo in a game of basketball against Jon, Nermal and Odie as they try to get food for a picnic into a picnic basket.  The show’s writers poked fun at famed broadcaster Marv Albert in this episode, creating a mouse version of Albert to anchor the showdown.

“Robodie” makes Odie the star after he is kidnapped by a mad scientist — of sorts — who wants to make robot versions of Odie.  There’s just one problem:  Odie’s robot doubles are just as absent minded as Odie, which leads to its own share of laughs.

“Swine Trek” is one of many U.S. Acres shorts featured in Season Two of Garfield & Friends.  This episode spoofs CBS’ classic Star Trek series, with Orson taking on the role of Captain Kirk, Lanolin playing Uhura, Wade as Dr. Bones (fittingly), Booker as Chekov and Bo sheep as Scottie and Sheldon as Spock.  Orson’s evil brothers play the part of the Klingons.  the whole story rises from a dream sequence that Orson has after he falls ill with a cold.

These episodes and so many other memorable episodes make up the whole of Garfield & Friends: Season Two.  The collection is available now through PBS’ online store for MSRP of $14.99.  Garfield & Friends: Season One is also available through PBS’ online store.

More information on these and other titles from PBS Distribution is available online now at:

 

Website: http://www.pbsdistribution.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PBSDistribution.org

 

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Skip Rope, Public Media Distribution To Release New ‘Garfield’ Compilation Next Month

Courtesy: Public Media Distribution/Skip Rope

PBS Distribution and Skip Rope are partnering to bring Garfield back to DVD again.

The companies announced Monday that they will release Garfield: 20 Stories on DVD Jan. 15.  The compilation features 20 episodes of the classic animated Saturday morning cartoon series, such as “The Pie-Eyed Piper,” “Films & Felines” and “How To Drive A Human Crazy.”

Garfield: 20 Stories is expected to retail for $6.99.  Its run time is listed at 142 minutes.

This is just the latest Garfield collection to be released by Skip Rope and Public Media Distribution.  The companies re-issued the classics Garfield: Nine Lives, and Garfield’s Halloween Adventure in February and August respectively.  They re-issued the Garfield Thanksgiving and Christmas specials last year in the DVD, Happy Holidays Garfield.

All seven seasons of Garfield & Friends are available now via Amazon in five volumes of episodes.  More Garfield games, comics and more are available online now at:

 

Website: http://www.garfield.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Garfield

Twitter: http://twitter.com/garfield

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

 

PBS Distribution Releasing Two Early Halloween “Treats” This Summer For The Whole Family

Courtesy: PBS/PBS Distribution

Summer is officially here, and before long, fall will be here, too.  With the return of fall also comes the start of the annual holiday season, Halloween.  Most people refuse to accept that the holiday season starts with Halloween, but it does.  In anticipation of Halloween’s return, PBS Distribution has two DVDs on the way — the brand new DVD Ready, Jet Go!: Jet’s First Halloween and the re-issue of the classic Garfield Halloween special, Garfield’s Halloween Adventure.

The lead episode in this season follows Jet’s friends — Sydney, Sean and Mindy — as they help him experience and enjoy his first ever Halloween, from carving a jack-o-lantern to trick or treating to even a haunted house of sorts.  In return, Mindy gets to fly by the red moon, something she had wanted to do for a long time. Celery even takes the kids into space to see a lunar eclipse along the way.

For all of the fun that everyone has during the night, there is one problem that the kids face:  Mitchell Petersen.  Mitchell is determined to find out what is going on with the Propulsion family, so the kids have to deal with him while keeping the family’s secret and trying to enjoy the night.  This story is divided into two segments to add to the enjoyment.  It isn’t the only story included in the disc.  Two more episodes are included as bonuses.

The first episode — “Diggin’ Earth'” — is a familiar story that finds Jet and company wanting to dig to the center of the earth after reading a story in a comic book about just that.  Yes, it’s another take of Jules Verne’s timeless story Journey To The Center of the Earth.  When the kids find out the reality of their effort, they still work to be the first kids to dig the farthest into the earth.

The second bonus episode — “Mindy’s Mystery” — is a botany lesson of sorts.  It follows Mindy, Jet and company as they try to track down a sweet aroma that’s keeping Mindy awake.  The source of the smell is a surprise to everyone, and leads to the botany lesson in question.

Ready, Jet, Go!: Jet’s First Halloween runs 80 minutes and will retail for MSRP of $6.99.  It can be pre-ordered online now direct via PBS’ online store.  More information on this DVD is available along with lots of Ready, Jet, Go! activities, printables and more at:

 

Website: http://pbskids.org/readyjetgo

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OfficialReadyJetGo

 

Courtesy: PBS Distribution

Also set for release August 28 from PBS Distribution is a re-issue of the timeless Garfield Halloween special, Garfield’s Halloween Adventure.  The special was most recently re-issued as part of Anderson Digital’s Garfield holiday collection in 2015.  This time it is being released by itself as PBS Distribution released the collection’s other two holiday specials together on DVD in 2017.

Garfield’s Halloween Adventure follows everyone’s favorite feisty feline as he recruits his k-9 pal Odie to help him get lots of candy on Halloween.  The duo ends up at an old deserted house that turns out to not be as deserted as they thought.  The special will have the fur…er….hair standing up on the backs of viewers’ necks, It may be a little too spooky for some younger audiences, though older kids might find it spooky fun.

Garfield’s Halloween Adventure will retail for MSRP of $6.99 and can be pre-ordered online via PBS’ online store.

More information on the latest Garfield DVDs is available online along with Garfield games and more at:

Website: http://www.garfield.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Garfield

Twitter: http://twitter.com/garfield

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

WHV Finally Gets It Right On Its Latest Peanuts DVD Release

Courtesy: Warner Brothers Home Video

Warner Home Video has struggled quite a bit in the past year or so with its home releases. The 2013 releases of Tiny Toon Adventures Volume 4, Taz-Mania: Season 2 Part 1, and Hats Off To Dr. Seuss were all troubled with their own problems. 2014 hasn’t exactly been off to much of a better start thanks to the release of The Flintstone Kids: Rockin’ in Bedrock. That release presented only the main Flintstone Kids shorts minus the companion Captain Caveman and Son and Dino shorts. That alone took off major points from that set. But now WHV has finally started to pick up the ball and get things back on the right track thanks to the brand new release of This is America, Charlie Brown. This brand new double-disc has officially made its own spot on this critic’s list of the year’s best new DVDs and Blu-rays for families and children. The primary reason for that the features included in this set are both entertaining and educational. Another reason for the set’s enjoyment is the use of both hand drawn animation and historical photos to help illustrate each “lesson.” The last factor to examine in what makes This is America, Charlie Brown a success is its packaging. Each of the noted factors by themselves, play important roles in the success of the set. Together, they make this brand new release one of the year’s best new box sets for families and children.

The first and most important factor in the success of This is America, Charlie Brown is the combination of both entertainment and education. The eight features spread across the set’s two discs educate viewers in such fashion that it doesn’t even feel like viewers are being taught. Thanks to the legacy of the Peanuts gang, it feels more like viewers are going on a fun field trip through America’s history than just learning about history from another documentary. There are even some fun little pop culture references that parents will appreciate along the way. One of those references is to the command module of the Apollo 10 being named Charlie Brown. Lucy comments on this saying that she doesn’t know where such a name could have come from. The kids also see their own comic strip hanging in the Smithsonian Museum of Art. The little reference there is just as funny. On a more subtle level, audiences that know anything about animation history will appreciate Frank Welker (The Real Ghostbusters, Curious George, Garfield & Friends) as the voice of a number of characters here including Wilbur Wright in “The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk.” Gregg Berger (Garfield & Friends, Aahhh!!! Real Monsters, G.I. Joe) joins Welker as the voice of Wilbur’s brother Orville. This isn’t the only feature to which Berger and Welker offer their talents, either. Lou Rawls joins them in “The Music and Heroes of America” and makes the journey all the more enjoyable even as being an educational journey. It serves as one more example of how the combination of education and entertainment is such an important factor in the success of this set. It isn’t the only important factor to the set, either.

The combination of entertainment and education in the features that make up This Is America, Charlie Brown is a solid foundation for the mini-series in whole. Just as important to the set’s success is the use of both hand drawn animation and historical photos to help illustrate and advance each story. Kids will be entertained by the hand drawn animation. And parents that grew up in the days of true animation will appreciate the original animation style of this Peanuts presentation. Those behind the mini-series balanced the animated segments with just enough historical photos to help drive home the stories in each feature. They even included some vintage video to help advance each “lesson,” too. And that video is just as balanced. The resultant effect is a presentation in each feature that will keep viewers of any age fully engaged from start to finish. It’s one more aspect of the whole mini-series that maintains the set’s value.

The visual presentation of the mini-series’ features and the ability of the features to entertain and educate without being too outright about their educational purpose are key to the success of This Is America, Charlie Brown. There is still one more factor to examine in the set in considering what makes it worth the purchase and the watch. That factor is the set’s overall packaging. Both of the discs in the set are placed on their own spindle inside the case. On one level, this protects the discs from scratching one another, thus increasing their life span. On another level, it minimizes the size of the box used to contain the discs. The bigger picture of this is that it conserves space on any viewer’s DVD rack. So not only is the mini-series in whole educational and entertaining, its case is ergonomic. Sure, there’s little else to the set whether extrinsic or even intrinsic. It’s a bare bones presentation. But these factors together make This Is America, Charlie Brown a much needed win for Warner Home Video and for fans that have waited so many years for this mini-series to get a proper release.

This Is America, Charlie Brown is available now in stores and online. It can be ordered direct online from the WB Shop at http://www.wbshop.com/product/this+is+america%2C+charlie+brown-+the+complete+series+dvd+1000411223.do. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.